Independence and integrity are paramount to the twelve lawyers of BZSE.
They operate and litigate in an open, transparent and independent manner in order to represent the best interests of their clients.
This has provided the lawyers of the office with a strong reputation, notably among local and international corporate clients ...
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In our employment law practice, clients often ask us for how long they have to continue paying employees' salaries when they are out ill. Unfortunately, there is no straight answer, unless it is explicitly stipulated in the employment agreement or Collective Labor Agreement. Here is why.

In Sint Maarten almost anything goes, but a same-sex marriage? Caught between the United States and Europe where same-sex marriages gain recognition or are flat-out recognized and its own more conservative and traditional way of life, Sint Maarten still has not made up its mind.

On March 10, 2015, the Court of First Instance of Sint Maarten rendered an interesting judgment in a case between one of our clients against the Minister of Justice, concerning a so-called “verklaring van rechtswege” (i.e. a residence permit for Dutch and US citizens: “The Permit”).

“A man, a man, a word, a word” is a well-known saying in Dutch. In essence it means that men (and women) of honor keep their word and comply with their commitments even in the absence of (extensive) written agreements. However, the Government does not always act in accordance with this saying.

There are several reasons forming a limited liability company is more advantageous to doing business as a sole proprietorship. A limited liability company can ensure the continuity of the company and protect from personal liability.

The Government, the Minister of Finance always needs money. The Tax Receiver collects and has been given privileges to do so since the government does it for us all, right? So, when the Tax Receiver starts to collect, he can hardly be stopped. Fortunately the law provides a reprieve.

On January 22, 2015, we posted an opinion about the Counterpart policy [Link]. Afterwards, the Minister of Public Health, Social Affairs and Labor published a Counterpart Guideline in the National Gazette on April 2, 2015.

Yes Director’s liability has sex appeal, because the possibility to hold a managing director of a limited liability company (normally an N.V. or a B.V.) personally liable, have and always will trigger great interest from players in the corporate field, particularly managing directors and creditors

On April 13, 2015 the Court in First Instance of Sint Maarten, in its capacity of appellate court for decisions taken by the Rent Committee, passed a judgment that may very well have great implications for all decisions taken to date by compositions of the Rent Committee in which one or more of the

After elections, the outgoing Government stays in place until a new Government is formed to ensure the continuity of governance. This outgoing cabinet should, based on unwritten constitutional law, only take the role as caretaker, and thus avoid any controversial decisions.

New tax legislation of Sint Maarten should be implemented as soon as possible, since the legislation is practically ready for submission to parliament. That is the opinion of the president of the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten and Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba,

A lawyer (attorney at law) is expected to be independent. This independence involves an attitude: this is the lawyer's disposition toward his client but also toward the court and in actual fact toward any other party involved.

The Daily Herald- Monday April 20, 2015. CAY HILL--Rik Bergman, attorney and partner with BZSE Attorneys-at-Law, is now the country's first and only certified mediator who is going to structurally integrate mediation into his law practice on St. Maarten.

On 9 December 2014 the Supreme Court pronounced a ruling (ECLI:NL:HR:2014:3677; JOR 2015/33) which is also relevant to the law of the Caribbean (Is)lands of the Kingdom. On the basis of that ruling the following requirements are imposed on the revocation of a resolution to dissolve a legal entity:

Under Dutch (and Sint Maarten) law it is possible to offer employees a maximum of three employment contracts for a definite term. The fourth contract is, automatically and by law, considered an employment agreement for an indefinite period,

Recently, the debate about the implementation of the “counterpart policy” has reemerged. Prime Minister Gumbs referred to it in his 2015 New Year’s speech, and MP De Weever focused on this policy in his campaign.

POINTE BLANCHE--St. Maarten Harbour Holding Company (SHHC) NV has failed in its efforts to put a halt to plans of Dock Maarten NV to construct a marina with a pier to accommodate ultra- and giga-yachts

TODAY Newspaper, Opinions & Comments: 11/29/14
The conflict between the Sint Maarten Harbour Holding Company and Dock Maarten can¬not come as a surprise to anybody. In the past, parliamentarians have even wondered where the seat of government really is - at Clem Labega Square or in Pointe Blanche.

Now that Rik Bergman has completed his training at the Lime Tree Institute for Mediation in The Netherlands, BZSE is able to offer the services of a fully certified mediator to our clients. Mediation is a method of alternative dispute resolution method which has proven its reliability.

PHILIPSBURG - Last Friday Eric Jansen of BZSE Attorneys at Law & Tax Lawyers has been sworn in as an attorney at the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba.

Well-respected corporate and finance attorney Karel Frielink joins the team of BZSE and will set up and manage a BZSE Curaçao office of the firm. The Curaçao office of BZSE will open on January 1, 2015, and Frielink will serve as its managing partner.

On January 17, 2014 we organized our traditional New Year's party. Enjoying a yearly increasing interest of clients and branch members, this party has become the best way to start the New Year. The pictures show you the team of BZSE who hosted the party and an impression of the party itself.

BELAIR, St. Maarten, BZSE Attorneys at Law | Tax Lawyers, St. Maarten’s largest law firm, has officially launched its new ultra-user-friendly website www.bzselaw.com. The website was unveiled first for the firm’s staff and can now be seen by the public at large on the worldwide web.

If it is up to Sint Maarten Government the Corporate Governance Council will die a slow and silent death. Within soon (November 16, 2013 to be exact) the term for which the five members of the Corporate Governance Council were appointed will expire.

PHILIPSBURG--President of the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) Emil Lee pressed home, on Thursday night, the dangers of corruption to good governance on St. Maarten, during his speech at the General Meeting of the SHTA. The topic of the night was good "Good Governance and Elector

Dear Editor, From newspaper articles printed in the Today and The Daily Herald on Tuesday and last week, it follows that Minister Meyers, responsible for telecommunication matters, is unwilling to grant a landing permit for an optic fibre cable to the Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland RCN ...

Dear Editor, In The Daily Herald of December 29, 2010, Mr. Dennis Richardson reacted to the legal opinion of the Corporate Governance Committee of the Bar Association of St. Maarten (hereinafter: “The Committee”) ...

Were our ministers checked for conflict of interest?
Dear Editor, In your edition of Tuesday, October 19, an article appeared with the heading “Ministers not checked on conflicts of interest.” We were informed that the Intelligence Service ...

To me, the upcoming elections look more like a popularity contest or idol competition than anything else. Most popular politicians (probably rightfully) assume that huge (photo shopped) billboards, a degree of excellence in “rhetoric” and “great promises or gifts” are key to winning this ...

Education, information dissemination and ethics are just some of the issues vying to take centre stage with the second year/term board of the Bar Association of St. Maarten. Board members: Dean of the Bar Association Roeland Zwanikken, Vice Dean Rik Bergman, Treasurer Richard F. Gibson Jr. ...

PHILIPSBURG--Court proceedings concerning a NAf. 20 million claim local telephone company TelEm said it had against East Caribbean Cellular (ECC) ended on a costly note for the plaintiff late last month ...

A claim of well over NAf. 20 million local telephone company TelEm says to have on East Caribbean Cellular (ECC) was virtually declared null and void by the Joint Court of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, ruling in appeal on Tuesday this week. In the unlikely event that TelEm can come up with ...

St. Maarten’s youngest law office, Zwanikken & Snow, officially opened its doors on Friday with the cutting of a ribbon followed by a well-attended reception. Although Roeland Zwanikken started the office on October 1, 2002, and Jelmer Snow joined him on February 1, 2003, ...